Lavelle's 19th Camp Is One Of Frustration Spring Training Report

Spring training isn't a new experience for Gary Lavelle. This one, his second as a Toronto Blue Jay, is his 19th spring camp, so by now it's become old hat for the 37-year old left-handed reliever.

Still, it has become a unique camp for the worst possible reason. The former Liberty High pitcher is beginning his 20th season in professional baseball. He always has been a power pitcher, with a good fastball and an excellent hard slider. And, until last year, he'd never once had arm trouble.

Lavelle began experiencing pain in his meal ticket left elbow. And, although corrective treatments were effective enough to enable him to appear in 69 games (he compiled a 5-7 record with eight saves and a 3.10 ERA) in 1985, the pain in his elbow became so severe in September that he was unable to pitch in the post-season playoffs when the Jays won the American League East title.

"That was probably the most frustrating thing to happen in my career," Lavelle said prior to Saturday's game with the Phils. "Here I was, finally on a winning team (he seldom was in his 10 years with the San Francisco Giants), and I just wasn't able to perform the way I'm used to."

Even more frustrating, though, is that the arm trouble flared up again as soon as he and the rest of the Toronto staff began extending themselves at the start of spring training.

"It (elbow) felt okay for a while," he said. "But it flared up as soon as we extended the time (of throwing) as well as the velocity."

The injury has been diagnosed as an inflammation in the area where tendon and muscle come together and attach. So, on the advice of a doctor near his off-season home in California, Lavelle and the Jays have opted this time for an unusual, different treatment. Acupuncture.

Saturday morning, Lavelle tookhis third treatment from a Florida acupuncturist named Dr. Su Kim Ku, after which he began throwing for the first time in several weeks.

"Last year," Lavelle explained, "they more or less went with anti- inflammatories (medications) all the way until about August. Then I had a cortisone shot, and that really cleared it up well. But only for about a month. Then I reinjured it. We tried a couple of shots, but the elbow just never responded.

"I was hopeful that the long rest over the winter would clear it up, but it didn't; so we decided to use other means of treatment. I've had three acupuncture treatments, and I'm supposed to have 10. They (Blue Jays) will leave me down here until I finish the treatments. I'm hoping sooner or later, one of the treatments works.

"Then maybe I can join the club in Texas or Kansas City or, if necessary, in Toronto (April 14)."

Lavelle is eligible to come off the disabled list April 14, but it's doubtful he'd pitch right away since he hasn't thrown to a batter all spring.

"We're trying to just work through the problem," he said, "hopefully without surgery. But I don't know. Today was the first time I've thrown since shutting down about 10 days before I started treatment. It felt so-so. It feels fine as long as I don't extend myself or at least try to.

"But as soon as I try to let loose, I feel it a little bit. Hopefully, one of these days, when I start extending myself it (elbow) won't react."

Lavelle currently ranks third on the all-time list of saves by a left- hander with 135. He trails only Sparky Lyle (222) and Tug McGraw (179). His contract is guaranteed through the 1987 season, with Toronto owning an option on 1988. So, if his arm does come around, he won't be in the position of having to fight for a spot in the bullpen.

"No," he said, "that shouldn't be a problem. If I'm healthy, I feel I can really help this team, and I think they realize that too. The key point now is whether or not I can regain my past form.

"If we can clear this up, my role will be a combination of setup and stopper, sometimes coming in just to get out one or two left-handed hitters."

Lavelle is 37 years old. And his left arm has probably launched a million pitches, most of them with extreme force. It is only natural then, to wonder if perhaps his arm troubles aren't simply a matter of the aging process plus wear and tear.

Unlike many big leaguers who might snarl at the question and walk away from the interviewer in anger, Lavelle smiled. Then he said thoughtfully, "That always comes into play. You just don't heal as easily or as quickly as you did when you were younger.

"The aches and pains come a little quicker and more often; it's just a natural part of life. But I'm hoping this isn't a career-ending injury. I just have to struggle a little now and hope that what we're trying this time will work out."

Early in his career with the Giants, Lavelle developed a deep religious commitment and dedicated his life to God. His faith has helped him deal with his physical problems and to develop a realistic outlook, no matter what the outcome.